Page 59 of Tempt Me
She has left, and I don't even know why I'm surprised.
Hearing her muffled cry outside, I cross over to the terrace, flinging the double doors open and striding over to the railing.
Rue is fighting off three assailants, somehow, as one of them has her in a death grip from behind. She kicks out, wrapping her legs around another’s throat and choking him with her thighs, all the while keeping another man from reaching her, as she flicks her blade with precise movement. She is spectacularly fierce, but my heart pounds as the panic races like spiked lava through my veins.
"Get her!"
The shout comes from near the back gate, the supposed black spot, and I take a split second to check that the cameras are still in place on my terrace. Then I clamp my fist over the wrought iron railing and swing my legs over, landing heavily on my feet in a crouch next to Rue and the asshole trying to abduct her.
Instantly, I see red. This is it. No more holding back. I need to protect Rue at any cost.
With a primal roar, I launch myself at the man holding Rue, slamming into him with a force that sends all three of us tumbling to the ground. I feel the weight of two other bodies pile on top of me as they try to take me down, but my training kicks in, and I use every move I have to free myself.
Rue scrambles away from the fray, grabbing a discarded weapon on her way out of the line of fire.
As the chaos around us intensifies, the adrenaline coursing through my veins makes time seem to slow down. Every movement I make seems to happen at an almost supernatural speed as if I'm watching it from outside my body.
It's not until Vik stumbles over to us, bleeding from a wound on his shoulder, that reality comes crashing back in.
"Get her out of here," he gasps between breaths, hoisting an automatic rifle up and aiming at the guys on the ground. "Now."
Knowing he isn't taking any fucking prisoners, I grab Rue's hand, and not even for a second do I look back and wish I could stay to fight. My only job, my only act, is to get Rue away from the danger.
Gripping her hand tighter, I haul her protesting to the back gate and smash the lock with the hilt of my knife. Kicking down my third door of the evening, I haul Rue through into the darkness, heading away from the villa and down the road that leads to the steep steps which will take us down to the beach far below, where a boat will be waiting. It's the escape route Vik and I planned weeks ago should the need arise, and, fuck, did that need emerge tonight.
Chapter32
Luca
Watching as Isaac and Rue disappear to safety, I turn, only to get a fist to my face from one of the attackers. Blood spills from my nose as I stumble back, but I refuse to go down without a fight. The anger inside me boils over as I lunge back at my assailant, delivering a swift kick to his kneecap before following up with a series of jabs and hooks that send him stumbling backward.
Another two attackers advance on me, but I’m ready for them. My muscles tense as I brace myself for impact, and then I’m moving, dodging their blows and delivering my own with deadly precision. It’s like something inside me has snapped, and all my pent-up rage, and frustration over Rue is fueling me now.
I take out the first one with a brutal uppercut that sends him flying back and crashing into the ground. The last guy tries to make a run for it, but I’m not about to let him get away that easily. With a burst of speed, I tackle him from behind, slamming him to the ground and pinning his arms behind his back.
Breath coming in ragged gasps, I sit there for a moment, panting heavily and staring down at the man struggling beneath me. Part of me wants to keep fighting, to keep inflicting pain on this piece of shit who dared to try and hurt Rue. But then Vik’s voice cuts through the haze, reminding me that we need to get the hell out of here before more guys, or worse, the cops, show up.
Getting to my feet, I suddenly stumble back, feeling the metallic taste of blood in my mouth as I try to regain my balance. But before I can retaliate against one of the attackers who got back up after I put him down, the other one comes at me with a knife.
I dodge his attack, grabbing his wrist and twisting it until I hear the bone snap. He yells out in pain, dropping the weapon as I use my other hand to land a blow to his temple, knocking him out cold.
The remaining attacker hesitates for a split second before lunging at me with a fierce determination. But he’s no match for my training and expertise. I easily disarm him, flipping him over my shoulder and onto the ground with a loud thud.
“Stay the fuck down, you pieces of shit,” I growl, pissed off beyond belief.
Breathing heavily, I survey the chaotic scene around me. Bodies are sprawled on the ground, some groaning in pain while others lie still and lifeless. Vik is still firing shots at the men, his face a mask of determination and fury.
“Vik!” I shout over the noise, grabbing his attention.
“Over here!” he shouts, and I lean down to drag one of the attackers along for the ride. Hauling him to his feet, I shove him in front of the man who will be his executioner. I grin, the adrenaline coursing through me.
“Why are you here?” Vik asks, pressing a knife to the man’s throat.
“Antonio’s son sent us for the wife. He wants her to sign over the land.”
“Huh?” I respond. “That was easy.”
“Because this guy is pissing his pants,” Francesca, Vik’s wife, growls suddenly, looking like she has joined in the fight as well.
